2010 Portland Timbers season
Encyclopedia
The 2010 Portland Timbers season was the tenth and final season for the club in the USL Conference of the USSF Division-2 Professional League
(D-2 Pro League), the second tier of the United States soccer pyramid. The D-2 Pro League was a temporary professional soccer league created by the United States Soccer Federation
(USSF) in 2010 to last just one season, as a compromise between the feuding United Soccer Leagues
(USL) and the North American Soccer League
(NASL). An expansion club
retaining the Timbers name began play in Major League Soccer
(MLS) in 2011.
The first competitive game of the 2010 season was played on April 17th at PGE Park in Portland, Oregon
against the Rochester Rhinos. The Timbers won 1–0 on a Ryan Pore
penalty in the 85th minute in front of a sold out crowd of 15,418.
started shaping the squad for the 2010 season on December 7, 2009 when they announced the signing of Quavas Kirk
from the Minnesota Thunder
while also naming nine players from the 2009 squad who would not be returning.
On January 15, head coach
Gavin Wilkinson
was named the 2009 FieldTurf
USL Division 1
Coach of the Year for the second time. Three days later, the Timbers appointed Wilkinson Technical Director
of the Portland Timbers MLS club
which was scheduled to begin play in 2011
.
Also in January, Portland held an open tryout followed by an invite-only combine for potential new players. Major League Soccer
rules allow the organization to sign several players from the 2010 2nd division squad for the 2011 MLS squad, bypassing the league's complicated allocation process, so many ex-MLS players and prospects turned out for the tryouts.
Although not taking part in the tryouts, Haitian national team
midfielder
James Marcelin
and Canadian
defender
Ross Smith were signed by the Timbers in early February. The club also revealed that defender Takuro Nishimura
had been transferred to Crystal Palace Baltimore.
men's team at Merlo Field
in a match to benefit Mercy Corps
and their relief efforts in Haiti
. The match featured mostly trialists for the Timbers including Doug DeMartin
who scored both goals to lead the Timbers to a 2–0 victory over the off-season university squad. DeMartin, as well as former St. Pauli
defender Ian Joy
, rookie
goalkeeper Matt Pyzdrowski
and midfielder Derek Gaudet
, were signed to contracts by the Timbers after featuring in the match.
Although just coming off of foot surgery, former U.S. national team
goalkeeper Adin Brown
was signed on February 23. After serving as a consultant
with the Timbers for the past year, former Portland Trail Blazers
executive Mike Golub was named Chief Operating Officer
of the Portland Timbers MLS club on March 1.
The returning players from the 2009 season
saw their first action in a training match versus the Oregon State Beavers
men's team in Corvallis
on March 6. On March 11 it was announced that Alex Nimo
would once again be acquired on loan from Real Salt Lake
for the season.
on March 11 for the inaugural Seattle Sounders FC Community Shield
. Trialist O. J. Obatola scored the only goal as the Timbers defeated Seattle Sounders FC
of MLS, who were also in their preseason, in front of 18,606 spectators at Qwest Field
.
, their second MLS opponent in succession. The match ended in a 1–1 draw with long-time Timbers defender Scot Thompson
scoring the 80th minute equalizer. After winning two closed-door training matches on back-to-back days in different states versus Vancouver Whitecaps FC and the Portland Pilots men's team once again, Portland signed former FC Dallas
defender Steve Purdy
on April 2.
On April 3, Portland were on the road once more in Bremerton, Washington
to face the Kitsap Pumas
of the USL Premier Development League
. Kitsap defeated Portland 3–2 in a competitive match which saw Rodrigo López
sent off
by receiving two yellow cards in rapid succession after coming on as a substitute.
The Timbers made their final preseason player additions on April 7 when forwards O. J. Obatola and Bright Dike
were signed to contracts. The preseason culminated with another closed-door training match versus the Seattle Redhawks men's team in Seattle which the Timbers won thanks to goals from Obatola and returning first team midfielder Ryan Pore
.
began their 10th and final season in 2nd division soccer on April 17 by hosting the Rochester Rhinos at PGE Park. A sell-out crowd of 15,418 watched as a Ryan Pore
penalty
in the 85th minute was enough to earn Portland an opening day victory. The club continued their positive start to the season by downing expansion club AC St. Louis
3–0 in a match which saw Pore score two goals and new signing O. J. Obatola get his first competitive goal for the Timbers.
After earning a 1–1 draw with Montreal Impact
in Portland's first road game of the year, the Timbers rounded out a successful April with a 2–1 victory over Cascadia Cup
rivals Vancouver Whitecaps FC. Pore scored all three Timbers goals in the final two matches of April to give the midfielder
six goals in four games as the Timbers stood atop the league.
featuring top Latin American
competition. On May Day
, Puntarenas
of Costa Rica
came to Portland and handed the Timbers a 3–1 loss. League play continued on May 13 with a loss at home to Crystal Palace Baltimore, a club in its first year in the 2nd division after moving up from the 3rd division following the 2009 season. That loss would be the start of an eight game winless streak in the league for the Timbers.
Mandjou Keita, Portland's leading scorer from 2009 and recently returned from a loan spell in India
, scored the opening goal against AC St. Louis in a rematch at PGE Park on May 15, but a stoppage time goal from Mike Ambersley
meant the Timbers had to settle for a draw. Montreal Impact
then traveled to Portland and took all 3 points from the suddenly struggling Timbers.
A disappointing May in the league was concluded when Crystal Palace Baltimore hosted the Timbers on May 22. Portland lost to Baltimore 2–1 after giving up another goal in second half injury time. The club's fortunes seemed to take a turn for the better when storied Argentinian
club Boca Juniors
came to town on May 29. In an exciting, back-and-forth game, the Timbers rallied to pull out a 3–2 victory thanks to a 91st minute free kick
goal from Rodrigo López
.
, the Timbers returned to league play as they hosted Carolina RailHawks FC
on June 6. Ryan Pore
again continued his scoring streak but Portland were thwarted by yet another stoppage time goal as Carolina earned a draw in the dying seconds of the match. The Timbers then traveled to Texas
where they drew 0–0 with league leading Austin Aztex FC. Forward O. J. Obatola, who started six of the first seven league games and scored just one goal, had not played since the May 19 loss to Montreal
and was released from his contract by mutual consent on June 10. Portland concluded their road trip on June 12 at Miami FC
but lost 1–0 as their league winless streak was extended to seven games.
The second half of June would prove to be a congested affair as the 2010 edition
of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
kicked off on June 15 with the Timbers hosting amateur side Sonoma County Sol
of the National Premier Soccer League
(NPSL) in the first round. The teams had met previously in the second round of the 2009 U.S. Open Cup
and Portland were again victors by the same 3–0 scoreline.
Just two days later, the Timbers were back in league play as they welcomed expansion club NSC Minnesota Stars
to Portland for the teams first ever meeting. Former Los Angeles Galaxy
and University of Washington
midfielder
Ely Allen
opened the scoring for the visitors in the 20th minute and Timbers midfielder James Marcelin
was sent off in the 52nd minute helping Minnesota to the surprise victory. Portland had an immediate opportunity for payback as they traveled to Minnesota
to face the Stars again two days later. An early penalty
goal from Pore and the first career goal for defender
Josh Cameron
in the 89th minute were enough for the Timbers to record a 2–0 victory. This halted a nearly two month stretch in the league without a win for the Timbers, a span covering eight games.
A busy June continued as Portland made the trip to face PDL
side Kitsap Pumas
in the second round of the U.S. Open Cup on June 22. Rookie
forward Bright Dike
recorded a hat-trick
as the Timbers defeated the Pumas 4–1, ensuring Portland would meet long-time rival Seattle Sounders FC
in the third round. Returning to league play on June 27, Portland continued its new-found momentum as the Timbers hosted expansion club FC Tampa Bay and came away 1–0 winners.
Cup play resumed for the Timbers on June 30 as Portland played host to Seattle Sounders FC of MLS
in the third round of the competition once again. A sold out crowd of 15,422 watched as the Timbers played the Sounders to a 1–1 draw. In extra time, Seattle defender Taylor Graham
was sent off
for bringing down Dike just outside the penalty area
. Portland failed to capitalize on the man advantage, however, and the match would be decided by penalty kicks. Sounders FC and former U.S. national team
goalkeeper Kasey Keller
made two saves during the shootout to help Seattle win 4–3 on penalties and knock the Timbers out of the cup for the second year running.
in the Open Cup
as fellow Pacific Northwest
rivals Vancouver Whitecaps FC returned to PGE Park for league play just three days later. Due to fatigue, head coach
Gavin Wilkinson
made eight changes to the side that faced Seattle and the reserves were able to earn a 0–0 draw to maintain their lead over Vancouver in the 2010 Cascadia Cup
standings. After their first full week without a game for over a month, a refreshed Portland team played host to struggling Miami FC
on July 10. Canadian
defender
Ross Smith scored his first league goal for the club and Ryan Pore
got his tenth goal of the season to lead the Timbers to a 2–0 win.
A twelve day break in league play allowed the Timbers to schedule back-to-back exhibition games
versus foreign opponents. Just one day after defeating Miami, Mexican
club Atlas visited Portland. A 77th minute George Josten
goal seemed to be enough for the Timbers to grab a narrow victory until Quavas Kirk
brought down an Atlas player in the penalty area
, earning the Mexicans a penalty
. Luis Robles
converted the kick in the 91st minute meaning the match would be decided by a penalty shootout. Portland Timbers U23's
goalkeeper Jake Gleeson
made two saves during the shootout as the Timbers defeated Atlas 4–2 on penalties.
Due to PGE Park being unavailable because of a Portland Beavers
baseball
game, Portland faced English
Premier League club Manchester City
at Merlo Field
on the campus
of the University of Portland
on July 17. A sold out crowd of Timbers season ticket
holders watched as Portland matched up well against the famous club during most of the first half. However, City closed out the half with two quick goals from Steven Ireland and Emmanuel Adebayor
to take a 2–0 lead. Both teams made wholesale changes at the half and the Timbers again started well. An individual goal by Brazilian
Jô
in the 68th minute would finish off the scoring, however, as Portland lost to Manchester City 3–0.
The Timbers played the first game of a four game road trip in Burnaby, British Columbia against Vancouver Whitecaps FC. Vancouver came into the game with a nine game unbeaten streak and sitting atop the NASL Conference standings. The Whitecaps took the lead in the 51st minute as Nizar Khalfan
beat Timbers goalkeeper Steve Cronin
near post. Momentum swung Portland's direction as Pore was taken down inside the penalty area by Vancouver defender Greg Janicki
. Janicki received a straight red card for the foul. Pore converted the ensuing penalty kick to level the game at 1–1. Portland took advantage of being a man up when Timbers defender Mamadou Danso
found the back of the net after a 72nd minute scramble in the penalty area. Portland was able to hold on for the 2–1 victory—only their 2nd win in Vancouver since the Timbers reformed in 2001. With the win, Portland secured the Cascadia Cup
for the second year in a row.
The second game of the road trip saw the Timbers in Fenton, Missouri
to take on last place AC St. Louis
. Earlier in the day, head coach Gavin Wilkinson was in Houston, Texas at the MLS All-Star Game
in his role as Technical Director
of the MLS club to take part in a coin toss
between the 2011 MLS expansion
clubs, Portland
and Vancouver. Vancouver won the toss and the right to choose first between several player acquisition mechanisms for each team's first season in Major League Soccer
, including the MLS SuperDraft
and MLS Expansion Draft
. Portland took the field against AC St. Louis without their head coach. In a disappointing game for the Timbers, St. Louis midfielder Mike Ambersley
scored a hat-trick
to lead AC to a 3–0 win over Portland, bringing an end to a five game unbeaten streak in the league for the Timbers.
Portland closed out the month of July by visiting FC Tampa Bay. Bright Dike
opened the scoring for the Timbers in the 16th minute but Tampa Bay equalized eleven minutes later. In the second half, a free kick goal by Ricardo Sánchez
in the 57th minute gave Tampa Bay the lead. They were unable to hold off the Timbers, though, as forward Takayuki Suzuki
tallied his first league goal of 2010 in the 81st minute to give Portland a hard-fought 2–2 draw on the road.
for the fourth and final game of their road trip on August 4. Before the game, the Timbers announced the signing of Dutch
forward Ibad Muhamadu
for the remainder of the season. The team was to end the road trip on a sour note, however, as an early goal by Rochester was enough to defeat Portland 1–0.
On August 10, former Rangers
and Chelsea
forward John Spencer
was named head coach
of the Portland Timbers MLS club. Spencer had long been rumored to be the front-runner for the job after leaving his job as assistant coach for Houston Dynamo
.
Spencer was in attendance as the Timbers were back at PGE Park to host NSC Minnesota Stars
on August 11. A sold out crowd watched as Minnesota took an early lead, but a third league goal from Bright Dike
meant the score was tied 1–1 at halftime. In the second half, Ryan Pore
was brought down inside the penalty area
by a Stars defender
and the Timbers were awarded a penalty
. Pore scored with the penalty kick in the 63rd minute for his league-leading twelfth goal of the season. The celebrations were short-lived as one minute later Portland captain Ian Joy
received a straight red card after a tackle on Stars midfielder
Geison Moura
. The Timbers, playing a man down, were unable to hold off Minnesota who equalized in the 73rd minute to draw with Portland 2–2.
After the game, it was revealed that Portland forward Mandjou Keita failed to show up for the game and had also missed two previous practices without notice. Keita last played a league game for the Timbers in the July 10 win over Miami, coming on as a substitute in the 81st minute. After missing a third practice, the Timbers placed Keita on personal leave to give the forward time to decide his future.
Hoping to avenge a July 28 3–0 loss in Missouri
, the Timbers faced AC St. Louis
for the fourth and final time of the season on August 14. Ibad Muhamadu made his first start for Portland but it was Bright Dike that got the only goal of the game in the 41st minute to give the Timbers a much-needed 1–0 victory on the road.
Head coach Gavin Wilkinson
's scouting trip to Ghana
earlier in the season proved fruitful as the Timbers announced the signing of Ghana U-20 national team
member Kalif Alhassan from Ghanaian club Liberty Professionals on August 19. Alhassan had also been a member of the Ghana U-17 national team
.
The Timbers enjoyed a rare week-long break between games as they prepared to face NSC Minnesota Stars for a fourth time with the series between the two teams even at 1–1–1. Reserve goalkeeper Matt Pyzdrowski
made his first start of the year for Portland. A fairly even contest was decided when, in the 66th minute, Stars goalkeeper Joe Warren brought down Dike inside the box. A penalty kick was awarded to the Timbers and Warren was shown a straight red card for the foul. Pore stepped up and buried the penalty for his 13th goal of the season. With a man advantage, Portland's defense closed out the game and Pyzdrowski was credited with his first professional win and clean sheet as the Timbers won 1–0 in Minnesota
.
On August 25, Portland announced the signing of defender Kevin Goldthwaite
, who had recently been released by New York Red Bulls, for his second stint with the Timbers after a loan spell in 2005. The next day, the Timbers hosted second place Austin Aztex at PGE Park. A quick goal from Bright Dike gave Portland the lead in the 4th minute but the Aztex equalized 22 minutes later. Portland seemed to gain the upper hand in the second half when Austin's Kieron Bernard
was sent off in the 56th minute. However, the Timbers failed to capitalize on the man advantage and had to settle for a 1–1 draw.
Revenge was on the mind of the Timbers players as they hosted Crystal Palace Baltimore, the only team in the league to defeat Portland twice, on August 29. In front of another sold out crowd in a game thoroughly dominated by the Timbers, Ryan Pore scored his first non-penalty goal since July 10 and Bright Dike scored a brace on either side of halftime to give the emerging striker six goals in his last seven games. Baltimore played the last minutes of the game with 10 men as Portland recorded a comfortable 3–0 victory over their unlikely new rivals.
, Portland would have to finish out the season on the road making the September 2 game versus Puerto Rico Islanders
the last ever 2nd division soccer game for the Timbers in Portland. On the morning of the game, the Timbers announced they had reached a deal with Alaska Airlines
to be the MLS shirt sponsor for the 2011 season.
The team would be without starting defender Mamadou Danso
as he was called into camp with the Gambian national team
for a 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier versus Namibia
. On a special night, in which the Timbers Army
presented each player with sunflower
s and a personalized banner, the Timbers left it to a late Ryan Pore
goal in the 83rd minute to record a 1–0 victory over the Islanders in front of a sold-out stadium. After the game, the Timbers announced that attendance for the 2010 season set a new modern-franchise record which included a record five sell-outs of PGE Park.
With the win against Puerto Rico — and help from other results around the league — Portland secured a playoff berth for the second year in a row. In the first game of their season-ending road trip and without leading scorer Ryan Pore, the Timbers extended their unbeaten streak to seven games as they earned a 0–0 draw with the Carolina RailHawks
.
One week later, Portland traveled to Puerto Rico to face the Islanders for the second time during the month. In his first start for the Timbers, new signing Kalif Alhassan chipped the ball over Islanders keeper Bill Gaudette
in the third minute of second half stoppage time to record his first goal for the club and ensure the Timbers came away with a 1–0 victory.
On September 25, Portland were in Maryland
for their fourth meeting of the season versus last place Crystal Palace Baltimore. Forward Bright Dike
scored his eighth and ninth league goals of the season and forward George Josten
added a third as the Timbers defeated Baltimore 3–1 to finish undefeated for the month of September.
, Canada
and Puerto Rico
. The league was divided into two conferences of six teams each. At the conclusion of the regular season, eight teams qualified for the playoffs—a seeded knockout tournament to determine the league champion. The 2010 regular season ran from April 10 to October 3. The Portland Timbers
competed in the USL Conference along with five other teams. The NASL Conference contained the league's remaining six teams. The league schedule was weighted so that each team played more games against the three teams in their geographical region (called a pod), regardless of conference affiliation. Each team was also paired with one other team outside their pod for additional games.
The teams in the same pod as the Portland Timbers were NSC Minnesota Stars
, AC St. Louis
and Vancouver Whitecaps FC and faced the Timbers four times each (two home and two away) during the regular season. The Timbers were also paired with Crystal Palace Baltimore, who were outside of Portland's pod, for four games. The remaining seven teams were played two times each (one home and one away). This resulted in a thirty game league schedule.
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Home teams listed on top of bracket
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, Seattle Sounders
and Vancouver Whitecaps FC. It is awarded to the club with the best record in league games versus the other participants. Since 2009, when Seattle joined Major League Soccer, the cup has been contested between Portland and Vancouver only. In 2011, when the Timbers and the Whitecaps joined the Sounders in MLS, all three Cascadia
rivals again vied for the cup.
The Timbers secured the 2010 Cascadia Cup—the club's second—on July 22 after defeating Vancouver 2–1 in a league match at Swangard Stadium
in Burnaby, British Columbia.
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D-2 Pro League Goal Scoring Champion
D-2 Pro League Best XI
D-2 Pro League Player of the Month
|}
Loan
Loan
USSF Division 2 Professional League
USSF Division 2 Professional League was a temporary professional soccer league created by the United States Soccer Federation in 2010 to last just one season. The twelve-team league was formed as a compromise between the feuding United Soccer Leagues and the North American Soccer League...
(D-2 Pro League), the second tier of the United States soccer pyramid. The D-2 Pro League was a temporary professional soccer league created by the United States Soccer Federation
United States Soccer Federation
The United States Soccer Federation is the official governing body of the sport of soccer in the United States. Its headquarters are located in Chicago, Illinois. It is a member of FIFA and is responsible for governing amateur and professional soccer, including the men's, women's, youth, futsal...
(USSF) in 2010 to last just one season, as a compromise between the feuding United Soccer Leagues
United Soccer Leagues
The United Soccer Leagues is the organizer of several soccer leagues with teams in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. It includes men's and women's leagues, both professional and amateur. Leagues currently organized are the USL Pro, the USL Premier Development League, the W-League, and...
(USL) and the North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League (2010)
The North American Soccer League is a professional men's soccer league in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico which began league play on April 9, 2011. It has been provisionally sanctioned as the second tier of soccer in the United States soccer pyramid, behind Major League Soccer in the...
(NASL). An expansion club
Portland Timbers (MLS)
The Portland Timbers are an American professional soccer club based in Portland, Oregon that competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada....
retaining the Timbers name began play in Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
(MLS) in 2011.
The first competitive game of the 2010 season was played on April 17th at PGE Park in Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
against the Rochester Rhinos. The Timbers won 1–0 on a Ryan Pore
Ryan Pore
Ryan Pore is an American soccer player who is currently without a club.-Youth and College:Pore attended Madison Comprehensive High School, and played college soccer at the University of Tulsa, where in 2004 he was a finalist for the Hermann Trophy, twice named first team All-American, and the top...
penalty in the 85th minute in front of a sold out crowd of 15,418.
Background
The Portland TimbersPortland Timbers (USL)
Portland Timbers was an American professional soccer team based in Portland, Oregon, United States. Founded in 2001, the team played in various leagues at the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, including the USL First Division and the USSF Division 2 Professional League, until the end of...
started shaping the squad for the 2010 season on December 7, 2009 when they announced the signing of Quavas Kirk
Quavas Kirk
Quavas Kirk is an American soccer player who currently plays for Rochester Rhinos in the USL Professional Division.-Youth:Kirk did not play college soccer; he joined the U.S...
from the Minnesota Thunder
Minnesota Thunder
Minnesota Thunder was an American professional soccer team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. Founded in 1990, the team played in the USL First Division , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2009. The team played its home games at the National Sports Center in nearby...
while also naming nine players from the 2009 squad who would not be returning.
On January 15, head coach
Manager (association football)
In association football, a manager is responsible for running a football club or a national team. The manager of a professional club is responsible directly to the club president. The position of manager is almost exclusively used in British football...
Gavin Wilkinson
Gavin Wilkinson
Gavin Wilkinson is a former New Zealand footballer and current technical director of Portland Timbers. Prior to this position, Wilkinson was manager of Portland Timbers in the United Soccer Leagues before their promotion to Major League Soccer beginning with the 2011 season...
was named the 2009 FieldTurf
FieldTurf
FieldTurf is a brand of artificial turf playing surface. It is manufactured and installed by the FieldTurf Tarkett division of Tarkett Inc., based in Calhoun, Georgia, USA. In the late 1990s, the artificial surface changed the industry with a design intended to replicate real grass...
USL Division 1
USL First Division
The United Soccer Leagues First Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico....
Coach of the Year for the second time. Three days later, the Timbers appointed Wilkinson Technical Director
Director of football
"Director of football" is a term describing a senior management figure at a football club, most commonly used in Europe. The exact nature of the role is often unclear and extremely variable and causes much debate in the sports media...
of the Portland Timbers MLS club
Portland Timbers (MLS)
The Portland Timbers are an American professional soccer club based in Portland, Oregon that competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada....
which was scheduled to begin play in 2011
2011 Portland Timbers season
The 2011 Portland Timbers season was the debut season for the Portland Timbers in Major League Soccer , the top flight professional soccer league in the United States and Canada...
.
Also in January, Portland held an open tryout followed by an invite-only combine for potential new players. Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
rules allow the organization to sign several players from the 2010 2nd division squad for the 2011 MLS squad, bypassing the league's complicated allocation process, so many ex-MLS players and prospects turned out for the tryouts.
Although not taking part in the tryouts, Haitian national team
Haiti national football team
The Haiti national football team represents Haiti in association football and is controlled by the Fédération Haïtienne de Football, the governing body for football in Haiti. Haiti's home ground is Stade Sylvio Cator in Port-au-Prince and their head coach is Edson Tavares...
midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
James Marcelin
James Marcelin
James Marcelin is a Haitian footballer who currently plays for Portland Timbers in Major League Soccer.-Professional:...
and Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
defender
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
Ross Smith were signed by the Timbers in early February. The club also revealed that defender Takuro Nishimura
Takuro Nishimura
is a Japanese footballer currently playing for Consadole Sapporo.-College:Nishimura attended Kokushikan University in Setagaya, Tokyo from 1997 to 2000, winning the All-Japan Prime Minister Cup.-Professional:...
had been transferred to Crystal Palace Baltimore.
Trialists and training
The Timbers began their preseason schedule on February 17 against the Portland PilotsPortland Pilots
The Portland Pilots were a Class-B minor league baseball team in Portland, Maine out of the New England League. Created in 1946 as the Portland Gulls, the Pilots lasted until 1949, when the New England League collapsed...
men's team at Merlo Field
Merlo Field
Harry A. Merlo Field at the Clive Charles Soccer Complex is a 4,892-capacity soccer-specific stadium in Portland, Oregon on the campus of the University of Portland where it serves as home to the school's soccer teams.-History:...
in a match to benefit Mercy Corps
Mercy Corps
Mercy Corps is a global aid agency engaged in transitional environments that have experienced some sort of shock: natural disaster, economic collapse, or conflict. People working for it move as quickly as possible from bringing in food and supplies to enabling people to rebuild their economy with...
and their relief efforts in Haiti
2010 Haiti earthquake
The 2010 Haiti earthquake was a catastrophic magnitude 7.0 Mw earthquake, with an epicentre near the town of Léogâne, approximately west of Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital. The earthquake occurred at 16:53 local time on Tuesday, 12 January 2010.By 24 January, at least 52 aftershocks...
. The match featured mostly trialists for the Timbers including Doug DeMartin
Doug DeMartin
Doug DeMartin is an American soccer player who last played for Portland Timbers in the USSF Division-2 Professional League.-College and Amateur:...
who scored both goals to lead the Timbers to a 2–0 victory over the off-season university squad. DeMartin, as well as former St. Pauli
FC St. Pauli
Fußball-Club St. Pauli is a German sports club based in the St. Pauli quarter of Hamburg. The football section is part of a larger club that also has Rugby Fußball-Club St. Pauli is a German sports club based in the St. Pauli quarter of Hamburg. The football section is part of a larger club that...
defender Ian Joy
Ian Joy
Ian Paul Joy is an American soccer player who last played for Portland Timbers in the USSF Division-2 Professional League. In 2011, Joy retired from playing and took a position as media staff with Real Salt Lake...
, rookie
Rookie
Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of their sport or has little or no professional experience. The term also has the more general meaning of anyone new to a profession, training or activity Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of...
goalkeeper Matt Pyzdrowski
Matt Pyzdrowski
Matt Pyzdrowski is an American soccer player who currently plays for Ängelholm of Sweden's Superettan.-College and Amateur:...
and midfielder Derek Gaudet
Derek Gaudet
Derek Gaudet is an Canadian soccer player who last played for Portland Timbers in the USSF Division-2 Professional League.-Club:...
, were signed to contracts by the Timbers after featuring in the match.
Although just coming off of foot surgery, former U.S. national team
United States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
goalkeeper Adin Brown
Adin Brown
Adin Brown is an American soccer player who is currently without a club.-College:A highly-touted prospect and a starting goalkeeper for the United States in the run-up prior to the 2000 Summer Olympics, Brown played college soccer at the College of William and Mary...
was signed on February 23. After serving as a consultant
Consultant
A consultant is a professional who provides professional or expert advice in a particular area such as management, accountancy, the environment, entertainment, technology, law , human resources, marketing, emergency management, food production, medicine, finance, life management, economics, public...
with the Timbers for the past year, former Portland Trail Blazers
Portland Trail Blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers, commonly known as the Blazers, are an American professional basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The Trail Blazers originally played their home games in the...
executive Mike Golub was named Chief Operating Officer
Chief operating officer
A Chief Operating Officer or Director of Operations can be one of the highest-ranking executives in an organization and comprises part of the "C-Suite"...
of the Portland Timbers MLS club on March 1.
The returning players from the 2009 season
2009 Portland Timbers season
-April:-May:-June:-July:-August:-September:-Postseason:-League standings:† Austin deducted two points for fielding an ineligible player on July 25, 2009...
saw their first action in a training match versus the Oregon State Beavers
Oregon State Beavers
The Oregon State Beavers is a name shared by all sports teams at Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon. The Beavers are part of the Pacific-12 Conference . Oregon State's mascot is Benny the Beaver...
men's team in Corvallis
Corvallis, Oregon
Corvallis is a city located in central western Oregon, United States. It is the county seat of Benton County and the principal city of the Corvallis, Oregon Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Benton County. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 54,462....
on March 6. On March 11 it was announced that Alex Nimo
Alex Nimo
Alex Nimo is a Liberian-born American soccer player who last played for Real Salt Lake of Major League Soccer.-Early life:...
would once again be acquired on loan from Real Salt Lake
Real Salt Lake
Real Salt Lake is an American professional soccer club based in Sandy, Utah, a suburb of Salt Lake City. The team competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. They currently play their home games at Rio Tinto Stadium. Real Salt Lake won...
for the season.
Seattle Sounders FC Community Shield
Five days after their first game action together, the team traveled to SeattleSeattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
on March 11 for the inaugural Seattle Sounders FC Community Shield
Seattle Sounders FC Community Shield
The Seattle Sounders FC Community Shield is a club football match hosted and organized by the Seattle Sounders FC of Major League Soccer. The match has the Sounders FC club play a select club in a pre-season exhibition match, with the intention to raise money for local charities in the Seattle area...
. Trialist O. J. Obatola scored the only goal as the Timbers defeated Seattle Sounders FC
Seattle Sounders FC
Seattle Sounders FC is an American professional soccer club based in Seattle, Washington. The club competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. Sounders FC was established in November 2007 as a MLS expansion team, making it the 15th team in...
of MLS, who were also in their preseason, in front of 18,606 spectators at Qwest Field
Qwest Field
CenturyLink Field is a multi-purpose stadium in Seattle, Washington, United States. It serves as the home field for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League and Seattle Sounders FC of Major League Soccer...
.
Final preparations
On March 20, the Timbers went on the road to play the San Jose EarthquakesSan Jose Earthquakes
The San Jose Earthquakes professional soccer team is located in the San Jose, California, United States suburb of Santa Clara, and participates in Major League Soccer , the top level soccer league in the United States and Canada....
, their second MLS opponent in succession. The match ended in a 1–1 draw with long-time Timbers defender Scot Thompson
Scot Thompson
Scot Thompson is an American soccer player who currently play for Portland Timbers U23's in the USL Premier Development League....
scoring the 80th minute equalizer. After winning two closed-door training matches on back-to-back days in different states versus Vancouver Whitecaps FC and the Portland Pilots men's team once again, Portland signed former FC Dallas
FC Dallas
FC Dallas is an American professional soccer club based in the Dallas suburb of Frisco, Texas which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States of America and Canada...
defender Steve Purdy
Steve Purdy
Steve Purdy is an American-born Salvadoran footballer currently playing for Portland Timbers in Major League Soccer.-College:...
on April 2.
On April 3, Portland were on the road once more in Bremerton, Washington
Bremerton, Washington
Bremerton is a city in Kitsap County, Washington, United States. The population was 38,790 at the 2011 State Estimate, making it the largest city on the Olympic Peninsula. Bremerton is home to Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and the Bremerton Annex of Naval Base Kitsap...
to face the Kitsap Pumas
Kitsap Pumas
Kitsap Pumas is an American soccer team based in Bremerton, Washington, United States. Founded in 2008, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference.Kitsap are the reigning PDL champions,...
of the USL Premier Development League
USL Premier Development League
The USL Premier Development League is the amateur league of the United Soccer Leagues in the United States, Canada, and Bermuda, forming part of the American Soccer Pyramid...
. Kitsap defeated Portland 3–2 in a competitive match which saw Rodrigo López
Rodrigo Lopez (soccer)
Rodrigo López is a Mexican-born American soccer player who is currently without a club.-Youth:López grew up in Harbor City, California, and began his career in 2003 when he joined the Chivas de Guadalajara youth system, where he played for a year and a half.-Professional:López turned professional...
sent off
Ejection (sports)
In sports, an ejection is one of several disqualifying actions assessed to a player or coach by a game official , usually for unsportsmanlike conduct....
by receiving two yellow cards in rapid succession after coming on as a substitute.
The Timbers made their final preseason player additions on April 7 when forwards O. J. Obatola and Bright Dike
Bright Dike
Chinedu "Bright" Dike is an American soccer player who currently plays for Portland Timbers of Major League Soccer.-College and Amateur:...
were signed to contracts. The preseason culminated with another closed-door training match versus the Seattle Redhawks men's team in Seattle which the Timbers won thanks to goals from Obatola and returning first team midfielder Ryan Pore
Ryan Pore
Ryan Pore is an American soccer player who is currently without a club.-Youth and College:Pore attended Madison Comprehensive High School, and played college soccer at the University of Tulsa, where in 2004 he was a finalist for the Hermann Trophy, twice named first team All-American, and the top...
.
April
The Portland TimbersPortland Timbers (USL)
Portland Timbers was an American professional soccer team based in Portland, Oregon, United States. Founded in 2001, the team played in various leagues at the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, including the USL First Division and the USSF Division 2 Professional League, until the end of...
began their 10th and final season in 2nd division soccer on April 17 by hosting the Rochester Rhinos at PGE Park. A sell-out crowd of 15,418 watched as a Ryan Pore
Ryan Pore
Ryan Pore is an American soccer player who is currently without a club.-Youth and College:Pore attended Madison Comprehensive High School, and played college soccer at the University of Tulsa, where in 2004 he was a finalist for the Hermann Trophy, twice named first team All-American, and the top...
penalty
Penalty kick
A penalty kick is a type of direct free kick in association football, taken from twelve yards out from goal and with only the goalkeeper of the defending team between the penalty taker and the goal.Penalty kicks are performed during normal play...
in the 85th minute was enough to earn Portland an opening day victory. The club continued their positive start to the season by downing expansion club AC St. Louis
AC St. Louis
Athletic Club of St. Louis, commonly referred to as AC St. Louis, was an American professional soccer team based in St. Louis, Missouri, United States. Founded in December 2009, the team played its first and only season the next year in the NASL Conference of the temporary USSF D2 Pro League, the...
3–0 in a match which saw Pore score two goals and new signing O. J. Obatola get his first competitive goal for the Timbers.
After earning a 1–1 draw with Montreal Impact
Montreal Impact
Montreal Impact was a Canadian professional soccer club based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Founded in 1992, the team played in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid until the 2011 season. The owner Joey Saputo now operates the MLS team Montreal ImpactThe...
in Portland's first road game of the year, the Timbers rounded out a successful April with a 2–1 victory over Cascadia Cup
Cascadia Cup
The Cascadia Cup is the name of the trophy created in 2004 by supporters of the Portland Timbers, Seattle Sounders, and Vancouver Whitecaps FC, which is awarded each season to the best soccer team in the Pacific Northwest. The Timbers, Sounders, and Whitecaps have roots dating to the days of the...
rivals Vancouver Whitecaps FC. Pore scored all three Timbers goals in the final two matches of April to give the midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
six goals in four games as the Timbers stood atop the league.
May
Portland's four league matches in May were flanked by exhibition gamesExhibition game
An exhibition game is a sporting event in which there is no competitive value of any significant kind to any competitor regardless of the outcome of the competition...
featuring top Latin American
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
competition. On May Day
May Day
May Day on May 1 is an ancient northern hemisphere spring festival and usually a public holiday; it is also a traditional spring holiday in many cultures....
, Puntarenas
Puntarenas F.C.
Puntarenas Fútbol Club, S.A.D. is a Costa Rican football club, currently competing in the Unión de Clubes de Fútbol de la Primera División ....
of Costa Rica
Costa Rica
Costa Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....
came to Portland and handed the Timbers a 3–1 loss. League play continued on May 13 with a loss at home to Crystal Palace Baltimore, a club in its first year in the 2nd division after moving up from the 3rd division following the 2009 season. That loss would be the start of an eight game winless streak in the league for the Timbers.
Mandjou Keita, Portland's leading scorer from 2009 and recently returned from a loan spell in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, scored the opening goal against AC St. Louis in a rematch at PGE Park on May 15, but a stoppage time goal from Mike Ambersley
Mike Ambersley
Mike Ambersley is an American soccer player currently playing for FC Tampa Bay in the North American Soccer League.-College and Amateur:...
meant the Timbers had to settle for a draw. Montreal Impact
Montreal Impact
Montreal Impact was a Canadian professional soccer club based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Founded in 1992, the team played in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid until the 2011 season. The owner Joey Saputo now operates the MLS team Montreal ImpactThe...
then traveled to Portland and took all 3 points from the suddenly struggling Timbers.
A disappointing May in the league was concluded when Crystal Palace Baltimore hosted the Timbers on May 22. Portland lost to Baltimore 2–1 after giving up another goal in second half injury time. The club's fortunes seemed to take a turn for the better when storied Argentinian
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
club Boca Juniors
Boca Juniors
Club Atlético Boca Juniors is an Argentine sports club based in La Boca neighborhood of Buenos Aires. It is best known for its professional football team, which currently plays in the Primera División....
came to town on May 29. In an exciting, back-and-forth game, the Timbers rallied to pull out a 3–2 victory thanks to a 91st minute free kick
Direct free kick
A direct free kick is a method of restarting play in a game of association football following a foul. Unlike an indirect free kick, a goal may be scored directly against the opposing side without the ball having first touched another player.-Award:...
goal from Rodrigo López
Rodrigo Lopez (soccer)
Rodrigo López is a Mexican-born American soccer player who is currently without a club.-Youth:López grew up in Harbor City, California, and began his career in 2003 when he joined the Chivas de Guadalajara youth system, where he played for a year and a half.-Professional:López turned professional...
.
June
Hoping to build on their exhibition win versus Boca JuniorsBoca Juniors
Club Atlético Boca Juniors is an Argentine sports club based in La Boca neighborhood of Buenos Aires. It is best known for its professional football team, which currently plays in the Primera División....
, the Timbers returned to league play as they hosted Carolina RailHawks FC
Carolina RailHawks FC
Carolina RailHawks FC is an American professional soccer team based in Cary, North Carolina, United States. Founded in 2006, the team plays in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid....
on June 6. Ryan Pore
Ryan Pore
Ryan Pore is an American soccer player who is currently without a club.-Youth and College:Pore attended Madison Comprehensive High School, and played college soccer at the University of Tulsa, where in 2004 he was a finalist for the Hermann Trophy, twice named first team All-American, and the top...
again continued his scoring streak but Portland were thwarted by yet another stoppage time goal as Carolina earned a draw in the dying seconds of the match. The Timbers then traveled to Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
where they drew 0–0 with league leading Austin Aztex FC. Forward O. J. Obatola, who started six of the first seven league games and scored just one goal, had not played since the May 19 loss to Montreal
Montreal Impact
Montreal Impact was a Canadian professional soccer club based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Founded in 1992, the team played in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid until the 2011 season. The owner Joey Saputo now operates the MLS team Montreal ImpactThe...
and was released from his contract by mutual consent on June 10. Portland concluded their road trip on June 12 at Miami FC
Miami FC
Fort Lauderdale Strikers is an American professional association football team based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States. Founded in 2006, the team plays in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid...
but lost 1–0 as their league winless streak was extended to seven games.
The second half of June would prove to be a congested affair as the 2010 edition
2010 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
The 2010 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup was the 97th edition of the oldest competition in American soccer, running from June through early October.The tournament proper featured teams from the top five levels of the American Soccer Pyramid...
of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is a knockout tournament in American soccer. The tournament is the oldest ongoing American soccer competition and is presently open to all United States Soccer Federation affiliated teams, from amateur adult club teams to the professional clubs of Major League...
kicked off on June 15 with the Timbers hosting amateur side Sonoma County Sol
Sonoma County Sol
Sonoma County Sol is an American soccer team based in Santa Rosa, California, United States. Founded in 2004, the team plays in National Premier Soccer League , a national amateur league at the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Northwest Division.The team plays its home games at...
of the National Premier Soccer League
National Premier Soccer League
The National Premier Soccer League is a United States soccer league recognized by the United States Soccer Federation and FIFA as a Division IV league...
(NPSL) in the first round. The teams had met previously in the second round of the 2009 U.S. Open Cup
2009 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
The 2009 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup was the 96th edition of the oldest competition in American soccer, running from June through early September.The tournament proper features teams from the top five levels of the American Soccer Pyramid...
and Portland were again victors by the same 3–0 scoreline.
Just two days later, the Timbers were back in league play as they welcomed expansion club NSC Minnesota Stars
NSC Minnesota Stars
The NSC Minnesota Stars is an American professional soccer team based in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul area in Minnesota, United States. Founded in 2010, the team plays in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid...
to Portland for the teams first ever meeting. Former Los Angeles Galaxy
Los Angeles Galaxy
The Los Angeles Galaxy are an American professional soccer team, based in the Los Angeles suburb of Carson, California, which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, and the league's second...
and University of Washington
University of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
Ely Allen
Ely Allen
Ely Allen is an American soccer player currently playing for NSC Minnesota Stars in the North American Soccer League.-College:...
opened the scoring for the visitors in the 20th minute and Timbers midfielder James Marcelin
James Marcelin
James Marcelin is a Haitian footballer who currently plays for Portland Timbers in Major League Soccer.-Professional:...
was sent off in the 52nd minute helping Minnesota to the surprise victory. Portland had an immediate opportunity for payback as they traveled to Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
to face the Stars again two days later. An early penalty
Penalty kick
A penalty kick is a type of direct free kick in association football, taken from twelve yards out from goal and with only the goalkeeper of the defending team between the penalty taker and the goal.Penalty kicks are performed during normal play...
goal from Pore and the first career goal for defender
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
Josh Cameron
Josh Cameron
Josh Cameron is an American soccer player who last played for Portland Timbers in the USSF Division-2 Professional League.-College:...
in the 89th minute were enough for the Timbers to record a 2–0 victory. This halted a nearly two month stretch in the league without a win for the Timbers, a span covering eight games.
A busy June continued as Portland made the trip to face PDL
USL Premier Development League
The USL Premier Development League is the amateur league of the United Soccer Leagues in the United States, Canada, and Bermuda, forming part of the American Soccer Pyramid...
side Kitsap Pumas
Kitsap Pumas
Kitsap Pumas is an American soccer team based in Bremerton, Washington, United States. Founded in 2008, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference.Kitsap are the reigning PDL champions,...
in the second round of the U.S. Open Cup on June 22. Rookie
Rookie
Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of their sport or has little or no professional experience. The term also has the more general meaning of anyone new to a profession, training or activity Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of...
forward Bright Dike
Bright Dike
Chinedu "Bright" Dike is an American soccer player who currently plays for Portland Timbers of Major League Soccer.-College and Amateur:...
recorded a hat-trick
Hat-trick
A hat-trick or hat trick in sport is the achievement of a positive feat three times during a game, or other achievements based on threes. The term was first used in 1858 in cricket to describe HH Stephenson's feat of taking three wickets in three balls. A collection was held for Stephenson, and he...
as the Timbers defeated the Pumas 4–1, ensuring Portland would meet long-time rival Seattle Sounders FC
Seattle Sounders FC
Seattle Sounders FC is an American professional soccer club based in Seattle, Washington. The club competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. Sounders FC was established in November 2007 as a MLS expansion team, making it the 15th team in...
in the third round. Returning to league play on June 27, Portland continued its new-found momentum as the Timbers hosted expansion club FC Tampa Bay and came away 1–0 winners.
Cup play resumed for the Timbers on June 30 as Portland played host to Seattle Sounders FC of MLS
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
in the third round of the competition once again. A sold out crowd of 15,422 watched as the Timbers played the Sounders to a 1–1 draw. In extra time, Seattle defender Taylor Graham
Taylor Graham
Taylor Graham is an American soccer player who last played for Seattle Sounders FC in Major League Soccer.-Youth and College:...
was sent off
Ejection (sports)
In sports, an ejection is one of several disqualifying actions assessed to a player or coach by a game official , usually for unsportsmanlike conduct....
for bringing down Dike just outside the penalty area
Penalty area
The penalty area , is an area of an association football pitch. It is rectangular and extends to each side of the goal and in front of it. Within the penalty area is the penalty spot , which is from the goal line, directly in-line with the centre of the goal...
. Portland failed to capitalize on the man advantage, however, and the match would be decided by penalty kicks. Sounders FC and former U.S. national team
United States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
goalkeeper Kasey Keller
Kasey Keller
Kasey Keller is a retired American soccer player who last played for Seattle Sounders FC in Major League Soccer....
made two saves during the shootout to help Seattle win 4–3 on penalties and knock the Timbers out of the cup for the second year running.
July
The Timbers had little time to rest after playing a draining 120 minutes against Seattle Sounders FCSeattle Sounders FC
Seattle Sounders FC is an American professional soccer club based in Seattle, Washington. The club competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. Sounders FC was established in November 2007 as a MLS expansion team, making it the 15th team in...
in the Open Cup
2010 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
The 2010 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup was the 97th edition of the oldest competition in American soccer, running from June through early October.The tournament proper featured teams from the top five levels of the American Soccer Pyramid...
as fellow Pacific Northwest
Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest is a region in northwestern North America, bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the west and, loosely, by the Rocky Mountains on the east. Definitions of the region vary and there is no commonly agreed upon boundary, even among Pacific Northwesterners. A common concept of the...
rivals Vancouver Whitecaps FC returned to PGE Park for league play just three days later. Due to fatigue, head coach
Manager (association football)
In association football, a manager is responsible for running a football club or a national team. The manager of a professional club is responsible directly to the club president. The position of manager is almost exclusively used in British football...
Gavin Wilkinson
Gavin Wilkinson
Gavin Wilkinson is a former New Zealand footballer and current technical director of Portland Timbers. Prior to this position, Wilkinson was manager of Portland Timbers in the United Soccer Leagues before their promotion to Major League Soccer beginning with the 2011 season...
made eight changes to the side that faced Seattle and the reserves were able to earn a 0–0 draw to maintain their lead over Vancouver in the 2010 Cascadia Cup
Cascadia Cup
The Cascadia Cup is the name of the trophy created in 2004 by supporters of the Portland Timbers, Seattle Sounders, and Vancouver Whitecaps FC, which is awarded each season to the best soccer team in the Pacific Northwest. The Timbers, Sounders, and Whitecaps have roots dating to the days of the...
standings. After their first full week without a game for over a month, a refreshed Portland team played host to struggling Miami FC
Miami FC
Fort Lauderdale Strikers is an American professional association football team based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States. Founded in 2006, the team plays in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid...
on July 10. Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
defender
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
Ross Smith scored his first league goal for the club and Ryan Pore
Ryan Pore
Ryan Pore is an American soccer player who is currently without a club.-Youth and College:Pore attended Madison Comprehensive High School, and played college soccer at the University of Tulsa, where in 2004 he was a finalist for the Hermann Trophy, twice named first team All-American, and the top...
got his tenth goal of the season to lead the Timbers to a 2–0 win.
A twelve day break in league play allowed the Timbers to schedule back-to-back exhibition games
Exhibition game
An exhibition game is a sporting event in which there is no competitive value of any significant kind to any competitor regardless of the outcome of the competition...
versus foreign opponents. Just one day after defeating Miami, Mexican
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
club Atlas visited Portland. A 77th minute George Josten
George Josten
George Josten is an American soccer player who last played for Portland Timbers in the USSF Division-2 Professional League.-College and Amateur:...
goal seemed to be enough for the Timbers to grab a narrow victory until Quavas Kirk
Quavas Kirk
Quavas Kirk is an American soccer player who currently plays for Rochester Rhinos in the USL Professional Division.-Youth:Kirk did not play college soccer; he joined the U.S...
brought down an Atlas player in the penalty area
Penalty area
The penalty area , is an area of an association football pitch. It is rectangular and extends to each side of the goal and in front of it. Within the penalty area is the penalty spot , which is from the goal line, directly in-line with the centre of the goal...
, earning the Mexicans a penalty
Penalty kick
A penalty kick is a type of direct free kick in association football, taken from twelve yards out from goal and with only the goalkeeper of the defending team between the penalty taker and the goal.Penalty kicks are performed during normal play...
. Luis Robles
Luis Enrique Robles
Luis Enrique Robles Ramirez is a Mexican professional Football player who is a defender for Atlas in Mexico. He's been known to play as a defensive midfielder.-External links:...
converted the kick in the 91st minute meaning the match would be decided by a penalty shootout. Portland Timbers U23's
Portland Timbers U23's
Portland Timbers U23's is an American soccer team based in Portland, Oregon, United States. Although founded in 2008 as part of the development system for the Portland Timbers USSF D2 organization, beginning in 2011 they are part of the development system for the Major League Soccer franchise of...
goalkeeper Jake Gleeson
Jake Gleeson
Jacob "Jake" Gleeson is a New Zealander footballer currently playing for the Portland Timbers in Major League Soccer.-Club career:Gleeson began his career playing for Western Suburbs of the Central Premier League...
made two saves during the shootout as the Timbers defeated Atlas 4–2 on penalties.
Due to PGE Park being unavailable because of a Portland Beavers
Portland Beavers
The Tucson Padres are a minor league baseball team, representing Tucson, Arizona, in the Pacific Coast League . They are the Triple-A affiliate for the San Diego Padres. The team was formerly known as the Portland Beavers and played its last home game at PGE Park on September 6, 2010...
baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
game, Portland faced English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
Premier League club Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
at Merlo Field
Merlo Field
Harry A. Merlo Field at the Clive Charles Soccer Complex is a 4,892-capacity soccer-specific stadium in Portland, Oregon on the campus of the University of Portland where it serves as home to the school's soccer teams.-History:...
on the campus
Campus
A campus is traditionally the land on which a college or university and related institutional buildings are situated. Usually a campus includes libraries, lecture halls, residence halls and park-like settings...
of the University of Portland
University of Portland
The University of Portland is a private Roman Catholic university located in Portland, Oregon. It is affiliated with the Congregation of Holy Cross and is the sister school of the University of Notre Dame. Founded in 1901, UP has a student body of about 3,600 students...
on July 17. A sold out crowd of Timbers season ticket
Season ticket
A season ticket is a ticket that grants privileges over a defined period of time.-Sport:In sport, a season ticket grants the holder access to all regular-season home games for one season without additional charges. The ticket usually offers a discounted price over purchasing a ticket for each of...
holders watched as Portland matched up well against the famous club during most of the first half. However, City closed out the half with two quick goals from Steven Ireland and Emmanuel Adebayor
Emmanuel Adebayor
Sheyi Emmanuel Adebayor is a Togolese footballer who plays for Tottenham Hotspur as a striker on loan from Manchester City. He plays in the same position for the Togo national team. Adebayor previously played for Metz, Monaco and Arsenal and was voted African Footballer of the Year for 2008...
to take a 2–0 lead. Both teams made wholesale changes at the half and the Timbers again started well. An individual goal by Brazilian
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
Jô
Jo
JO, Jo or jo may refer to:*Jō, a ~4-foot-long wooden staff used in some Japanese martial arts*Cho , , also spelled Jo, a common Korean family name*Jo , a 1971 French comedy...
in the 68th minute would finish off the scoring, however, as Portland lost to Manchester City 3–0.
The Timbers played the first game of a four game road trip in Burnaby, British Columbia against Vancouver Whitecaps FC. Vancouver came into the game with a nine game unbeaten streak and sitting atop the NASL Conference standings. The Whitecaps took the lead in the 51st minute as Nizar Khalfan
Nizar Khalfan
Nizar Khalfan is a Tanzanian footballer currently playing with Philadelphia Union in Major League Soccer.-Early career:Khalfan started playing football in his hometown of Mtwara with a youth team called Score FC...
beat Timbers goalkeeper Steve Cronin
Steve Cronin
Steve Michael Cronin is an American soccer player who currently plays for D.C. United of Major League Soccer.-College and Amateur:Cronin played college soccer at Santa Clara University from 2001 to 2003...
near post. Momentum swung Portland's direction as Pore was taken down inside the penalty area by Vancouver defender Greg Janicki
Greg Janicki
Greg Janicki is an American soccer player currently playing for Vancouver Whitecaps FC in Major League Soccer.-Youth and College:...
. Janicki received a straight red card for the foul. Pore converted the ensuing penalty kick to level the game at 1–1. Portland took advantage of being a man up when Timbers defender Mamadou Danso
Mamadou Danso
Mamadou "Futty" Danso is a Gambian footballer who currently plays for Portland Timbers of Major League Soccer.-College and Amateur:...
found the back of the net after a 72nd minute scramble in the penalty area. Portland was able to hold on for the 2–1 victory—only their 2nd win in Vancouver since the Timbers reformed in 2001. With the win, Portland secured the Cascadia Cup
Cascadia Cup
The Cascadia Cup is the name of the trophy created in 2004 by supporters of the Portland Timbers, Seattle Sounders, and Vancouver Whitecaps FC, which is awarded each season to the best soccer team in the Pacific Northwest. The Timbers, Sounders, and Whitecaps have roots dating to the days of the...
for the second year in a row.
The second game of the road trip saw the Timbers in Fenton, Missouri
Fenton, Missouri
Fenton is a city in St. Louis County, Missouri, United States, and a suburb of St. Louis. The population was 4,022 at the 2010 census.-History:Due to its proximity to fertile land and the Meramec River, the Fenton area has been inhabited for over 1,000 years...
to take on last place AC St. Louis
AC St. Louis
Athletic Club of St. Louis, commonly referred to as AC St. Louis, was an American professional soccer team based in St. Louis, Missouri, United States. Founded in December 2009, the team played its first and only season the next year in the NASL Conference of the temporary USSF D2 Pro League, the...
. Earlier in the day, head coach Gavin Wilkinson was in Houston, Texas at the MLS All-Star Game
MLS All-Star 2010
The 2010 Major League Soccer All-Star Game, held on July 28, 2010, was the 15th consecutive Major League Soccer All-Star Game, a soccer match involving all-stars from Major League Soccer. The MLS All-Stars faced Manchester United of the English Premier League in the seventh All-Star Game that...
in his role as Technical Director
Director of football
"Director of football" is a term describing a senior management figure at a football club, most commonly used in Europe. The exact nature of the role is often unclear and extremely variable and causes much debate in the sports media...
of the MLS club to take part in a coin toss
Coin flipping
Coin flipping or coin tossing or heads or tails is the practice of throwing a coin in the air to choose between two alternatives, sometimes to resolve a dispute between two parties...
between the 2011 MLS expansion
Expansion of Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is the top level of soccer in the United States and Canada. It was established in 1993 with ten initial teams. Since then it has expanded several times into new markets across the United States, and for the first time, beginning in 2006, into Canada. MLS has announced a further...
clubs, Portland
Portland Timbers (MLS)
The Portland Timbers are an American professional soccer club based in Portland, Oregon that competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada....
and Vancouver. Vancouver won the toss and the right to choose first between several player acquisition mechanisms for each team's first season in Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
, including the MLS SuperDraft
2011 MLS SuperDraft
The 2011 MLS SuperDraft was the twelfth annual SuperDraft presented by Major League Soccer. It was held on January 13, 2011 in Baltimore, Maryland, during the 2011 NSCAA Convention at the Baltimore Convention Center. The 2011 SuperDraft consisted of three rounds with eighteen selections each, for...
and MLS Expansion Draft
2010 MLS Expansion Draft
The 2010 MLS Expansion Draft took place on November 24, 2010, and was a special draft for the Major League Soccer expansion teams Vancouver Whitecaps FC and Portland Timbers.-Format:...
. Portland took the field against AC St. Louis without their head coach. In a disappointing game for the Timbers, St. Louis midfielder Mike Ambersley
Mike Ambersley
Mike Ambersley is an American soccer player currently playing for FC Tampa Bay in the North American Soccer League.-College and Amateur:...
scored a hat-trick
Hat-trick
A hat-trick or hat trick in sport is the achievement of a positive feat three times during a game, or other achievements based on threes. The term was first used in 1858 in cricket to describe HH Stephenson's feat of taking three wickets in three balls. A collection was held for Stephenson, and he...
to lead AC to a 3–0 win over Portland, bringing an end to a five game unbeaten streak in the league for the Timbers.
Portland closed out the month of July by visiting FC Tampa Bay. Bright Dike
Bright Dike
Chinedu "Bright" Dike is an American soccer player who currently plays for Portland Timbers of Major League Soccer.-College and Amateur:...
opened the scoring for the Timbers in the 16th minute but Tampa Bay equalized eleven minutes later. In the second half, a free kick goal by Ricardo Sánchez
Ricardo Sánchez (footballer)
Ricardo Sánchez is a Mexican footballer currently playing for FC Tampa Bay in the USSF Division 2 Professional League.-Club:...
in the 57th minute gave Tampa Bay the lead. They were unable to hold off the Timbers, though, as forward Takayuki Suzuki
Takayuki Suzuki
is a Japanese footballer who plays for Mito HollyHock in the J. League Division 2.-Club:Suzuki has spent the majority of his playing career with Kashima Antlers, playing six stints for the team over the course of ten years, in between short periods playing in Brazil and Belgium. Suzuki played 87...
tallied his first league goal of 2010 in the 81st minute to give Portland a hard-fought 2–2 draw on the road.
August
Portland traveled to Rochester, New YorkRochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
for the fourth and final game of their road trip on August 4. Before the game, the Timbers announced the signing of Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
forward Ibad Muhamadu
Ibad Muhamadu
Ibad Muhamadu is a Dutch professional footballer who currently plays for SV Spakenburg in the Dutch third division.-Europe:...
for the remainder of the season. The team was to end the road trip on a sour note, however, as an early goal by Rochester was enough to defeat Portland 1–0.
On August 10, former Rangers
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
and Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
forward John Spencer
John Spencer (footballer)
John Spencer is the head coach for Portland Timbers of Major League Soccer. Spencer is a former professional football player, who represented Scotland at international level...
was named head coach
Manager (association football)
In association football, a manager is responsible for running a football club or a national team. The manager of a professional club is responsible directly to the club president. The position of manager is almost exclusively used in British football...
of the Portland Timbers MLS club. Spencer had long been rumored to be the front-runner for the job after leaving his job as assistant coach for Houston Dynamo
Houston Dynamo
The Houston Dynamo is an American professional soccer club, based in Houston, Texas, that plays in Major League Soccer, the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. Founded in 2005 as Houston 1836, the team name was renamed to Houston Dynamo following protests from Hispanic...
.
Spencer was in attendance as the Timbers were back at PGE Park to host NSC Minnesota Stars
NSC Minnesota Stars
The NSC Minnesota Stars is an American professional soccer team based in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul area in Minnesota, United States. Founded in 2010, the team plays in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid...
on August 11. A sold out crowd watched as Minnesota took an early lead, but a third league goal from Bright Dike
Bright Dike
Chinedu "Bright" Dike is an American soccer player who currently plays for Portland Timbers of Major League Soccer.-College and Amateur:...
meant the score was tied 1–1 at halftime. In the second half, Ryan Pore
Ryan Pore
Ryan Pore is an American soccer player who is currently without a club.-Youth and College:Pore attended Madison Comprehensive High School, and played college soccer at the University of Tulsa, where in 2004 he was a finalist for the Hermann Trophy, twice named first team All-American, and the top...
was brought down inside the penalty area
Penalty area
The penalty area , is an area of an association football pitch. It is rectangular and extends to each side of the goal and in front of it. Within the penalty area is the penalty spot , which is from the goal line, directly in-line with the centre of the goal...
by a Stars defender
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
and the Timbers were awarded a penalty
Penalty kick
A penalty kick is a type of direct free kick in association football, taken from twelve yards out from goal and with only the goalkeeper of the defending team between the penalty taker and the goal.Penalty kicks are performed during normal play...
. Pore scored with the penalty kick in the 63rd minute for his league-leading twelfth goal of the season. The celebrations were short-lived as one minute later Portland captain Ian Joy
Ian Joy
Ian Paul Joy is an American soccer player who last played for Portland Timbers in the USSF Division-2 Professional League. In 2011, Joy retired from playing and took a position as media staff with Real Salt Lake...
received a straight red card after a tackle on Stars midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
Geison Moura
Geison Moura
Geison Moura is a Brazilian footballer.-Brazil:Moura signed his first professional contract in 2004 when he joined Bahia, then of the Brazilian second division...
. The Timbers, playing a man down, were unable to hold off Minnesota who equalized in the 73rd minute to draw with Portland 2–2.
After the game, it was revealed that Portland forward Mandjou Keita failed to show up for the game and had also missed two previous practices without notice. Keita last played a league game for the Timbers in the July 10 win over Miami, coming on as a substitute in the 81st minute. After missing a third practice, the Timbers placed Keita on personal leave to give the forward time to decide his future.
Hoping to avenge a July 28 3–0 loss in Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
, the Timbers faced AC St. Louis
AC St. Louis
Athletic Club of St. Louis, commonly referred to as AC St. Louis, was an American professional soccer team based in St. Louis, Missouri, United States. Founded in December 2009, the team played its first and only season the next year in the NASL Conference of the temporary USSF D2 Pro League, the...
for the fourth and final time of the season on August 14. Ibad Muhamadu made his first start for Portland but it was Bright Dike that got the only goal of the game in the 41st minute to give the Timbers a much-needed 1–0 victory on the road.
Head coach Gavin Wilkinson
Gavin Wilkinson
Gavin Wilkinson is a former New Zealand footballer and current technical director of Portland Timbers. Prior to this position, Wilkinson was manager of Portland Timbers in the United Soccer Leagues before their promotion to Major League Soccer beginning with the 2011 season...
's scouting trip to Ghana
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
earlier in the season proved fruitful as the Timbers announced the signing of Ghana U-20 national team
Ghana national under-20 football team
Ghana national U-20 football team known as the Black Satellites, the current FIFA U-20 World Cup Champions and African Youth Champions, have been a three-time African Champion in 1995, 1999, 2009 and a two-time Runner-up at the FIFA World Youth Championship in 1993 and 2001...
member Kalif Alhassan from Ghanaian club Liberty Professionals on August 19. Alhassan had also been a member of the Ghana U-17 national team
Ghana national under-17 football team
Ghana national U-17 football team known as "The Riley Goon Squad" has been a two-time FIFA U-17 World Cup Champions in 1991 and 1995 and a two-time Runner-up in 1993 and 1997...
.
The Timbers enjoyed a rare week-long break between games as they prepared to face NSC Minnesota Stars for a fourth time with the series between the two teams even at 1–1–1. Reserve goalkeeper Matt Pyzdrowski
Matt Pyzdrowski
Matt Pyzdrowski is an American soccer player who currently plays for Ängelholm of Sweden's Superettan.-College and Amateur:...
made his first start of the year for Portland. A fairly even contest was decided when, in the 66th minute, Stars goalkeeper Joe Warren brought down Dike inside the box. A penalty kick was awarded to the Timbers and Warren was shown a straight red card for the foul. Pore stepped up and buried the penalty for his 13th goal of the season. With a man advantage, Portland's defense closed out the game and Pyzdrowski was credited with his first professional win and clean sheet as the Timbers won 1–0 in Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
.
On August 25, Portland announced the signing of defender Kevin Goldthwaite
Kevin Goldthwaite
Kevin Goldthwaite is a former American soccer player who last played for Portland Timbers of Major League Soccer.-College:After graduating from Christian Brothers High School ,...
, who had recently been released by New York Red Bulls, for his second stint with the Timbers after a loan spell in 2005. The next day, the Timbers hosted second place Austin Aztex at PGE Park. A quick goal from Bright Dike gave Portland the lead in the 4th minute but the Aztex equalized 22 minutes later. Portland seemed to gain the upper hand in the second half when Austin's Kieron Bernard
Kieron Bernard
Kieron Bernard is a Jamaican footballer currently playing for Orlando City in the USL Professional Division.-Youth and amateur:...
was sent off in the 56th minute. However, the Timbers failed to capitalize on the man advantage and had to settle for a 1–1 draw.
Revenge was on the mind of the Timbers players as they hosted Crystal Palace Baltimore, the only team in the league to defeat Portland twice, on August 29. In front of another sold out crowd in a game thoroughly dominated by the Timbers, Ryan Pore scored his first non-penalty goal since July 10 and Bright Dike scored a brace on either side of halftime to give the emerging striker six goals in his last seven games. Baltimore played the last minutes of the game with 10 men as Portland recorded a comfortable 3–0 victory over their unlikely new rivals.
September
The Timbers entered September on a five game unbeaten streak, having not lost since August 4. Due to scheduled renovations of PGE Park for the 2011 Major League Soccer season2011 Major League Soccer season
The 2011 Major League Soccer season was the 99th season of FIFA-sanctioned soccer, the 33rd with a national first-division league, in the United States and Canada, and the 16th season of Major League Soccer. The season marked the arrival of two new league clubs, Portland Timbers and Vancouver...
, Portland would have to finish out the season on the road making the September 2 game versus Puerto Rico Islanders
Puerto Rico Islanders
Puerto Rico Islanders is a Puerto Rican professional football team based in Bayamón, Puerto Rico. Founded in 2003, the team plays in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid....
the last ever 2nd division soccer game for the Timbers in Portland. On the morning of the game, the Timbers announced they had reached a deal with Alaska Airlines
Alaska Airlines
Alaska Airlines is an airline based in the Seattle suburb of SeaTac, Washington in the United States. The airline originated in 1932 as McGee Airways. After many mergers with and acquisitions of other airlines, including Star Air Service, it became known as Alaska Airlines in 1944...
to be the MLS shirt sponsor for the 2011 season.
The team would be without starting defender Mamadou Danso
Mamadou Danso
Mamadou "Futty" Danso is a Gambian footballer who currently plays for Portland Timbers of Major League Soccer.-College and Amateur:...
as he was called into camp with the Gambian national team
Gambia national football team
The Gambia national football team, nicknamed The Scorpions, is the national team of Gambia and is controlled by the Gambia Football Association. Until 1965, the team, and the country, were known as British Gambia...
for a 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier versus Namibia
Namibia
Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...
. On a special night, in which the Timbers Army
Timbers Army
The Timbers Army is an independent supporters group of Portland Timbers, a football club in Major League Soccer—the top tier of the United States soccer pyramid. Its members are known for their loud, enthusiastic support and the raucous atmosphere they create at Timbers games...
presented each player with sunflower
Sunflower
Sunflower is an annual plant native to the Americas. It possesses a large inflorescence . The sunflower got its name from its huge, fiery blooms, whose shape and image is often used to depict the sun. The sunflower has a rough, hairy stem, broad, coarsely toothed, rough leaves and circular heads...
s and a personalized banner, the Timbers left it to a late Ryan Pore
Ryan Pore
Ryan Pore is an American soccer player who is currently without a club.-Youth and College:Pore attended Madison Comprehensive High School, and played college soccer at the University of Tulsa, where in 2004 he was a finalist for the Hermann Trophy, twice named first team All-American, and the top...
goal in the 83rd minute to record a 1–0 victory over the Islanders in front of a sold-out stadium. After the game, the Timbers announced that attendance for the 2010 season set a new modern-franchise record which included a record five sell-outs of PGE Park.
With the win against Puerto Rico — and help from other results around the league — Portland secured a playoff berth for the second year in a row. In the first game of their season-ending road trip and without leading scorer Ryan Pore, the Timbers extended their unbeaten streak to seven games as they earned a 0–0 draw with the Carolina RailHawks
Carolina RailHawks FC
Carolina RailHawks FC is an American professional soccer team based in Cary, North Carolina, United States. Founded in 2006, the team plays in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid....
.
One week later, Portland traveled to Puerto Rico to face the Islanders for the second time during the month. In his first start for the Timbers, new signing Kalif Alhassan chipped the ball over Islanders keeper Bill Gaudette
Bill Gaudette
Bill Gaudette is an American soccer player who currently plays for Montreal Impact in the North American Soccer League....
in the third minute of second half stoppage time to record his first goal for the club and ensure the Timbers came away with a 1–0 victory.
On September 25, Portland were in Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
for their fourth meeting of the season versus last place Crystal Palace Baltimore. Forward Bright Dike
Bright Dike
Chinedu "Bright" Dike is an American soccer player who currently plays for Portland Timbers of Major League Soccer.-College and Amateur:...
scored his eighth and ninth league goals of the season and forward George Josten
George Josten
George Josten is an American soccer player who last played for Portland Timbers in the USSF Division-2 Professional League.-College and Amateur:...
added a third as the Timbers defeated Baltimore 3–1 to finish undefeated for the month of September.
October
Postseason
D-2 Pro League
The D-2 Pro League consisted of twelve teams from the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
. The league was divided into two conferences of six teams each. At the conclusion of the regular season, eight teams qualified for the playoffs—a seeded knockout tournament to determine the league champion. The 2010 regular season ran from April 10 to October 3. The Portland Timbers
Portland Timbers (USL)
Portland Timbers was an American professional soccer team based in Portland, Oregon, United States. Founded in 2001, the team played in various leagues at the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, including the USL First Division and the USSF Division 2 Professional League, until the end of...
competed in the USL Conference along with five other teams. The NASL Conference contained the league's remaining six teams. The league schedule was weighted so that each team played more games against the three teams in their geographical region (called a pod), regardless of conference affiliation. Each team was also paired with one other team outside their pod for additional games.
The teams in the same pod as the Portland Timbers were NSC Minnesota Stars
NSC Minnesota Stars
The NSC Minnesota Stars is an American professional soccer team based in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul area in Minnesota, United States. Founded in 2010, the team plays in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid...
, AC St. Louis
AC St. Louis
Athletic Club of St. Louis, commonly referred to as AC St. Louis, was an American professional soccer team based in St. Louis, Missouri, United States. Founded in December 2009, the team played its first and only season the next year in the NASL Conference of the temporary USSF D2 Pro League, the...
and Vancouver Whitecaps FC and faced the Timbers four times each (two home and two away) during the regular season. The Timbers were also paired with Crystal Palace Baltimore, who were outside of Portland's pod, for four games. The remaining seven teams were played two times each (one home and one away). This resulted in a thirty game league schedule.
USL Conference table
Results summary
Playoffs
The 2010 D-2 Pro League playoffs were a seeded knockout tournament to determine the 2010 D-2 Pro League champion. Eight teams from the twelve team league qualified for the playoffs. The top team in each conference automatically qualified while the next 6 teams with the highest point totals, regardless of conference, also qualified.Bracket
- Each round is a two-game aggregate goal series. Home teams for the first game of each series listed at the bottom of the bracket.
Match results
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Bracket
Second Round winners advance to play one of 8 MLS clubs in 16-team knockout tournamentHome teams listed on top of bracket
Match results
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Cascadia Cup
The Cascadia Cup is a trophy that was created in 2004 by supporters of the Portland TimbersPortland Timbers (USL)
Portland Timbers was an American professional soccer team based in Portland, Oregon, United States. Founded in 2001, the team played in various leagues at the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, including the USL First Division and the USSF Division 2 Professional League, until the end of...
, Seattle Sounders
Seattle Sounders (USL)
Seattle Sounders was an American professional soccer team founded in 1994 as a member of the American Professional Soccer League. In 1997, the team became a member of the USL First Division, the second tier of the United States soccer pyramid, until 2008, after which the majority of the team's...
and Vancouver Whitecaps FC. It is awarded to the club with the best record in league games versus the other participants. Since 2009, when Seattle joined Major League Soccer, the cup has been contested between Portland and Vancouver only. In 2011, when the Timbers and the Whitecaps joined the Sounders in MLS, all three Cascadia
Cascadia (independence movement)
Cascadia is the proposed name for a bioregional political entity and/or an independent nation located within the Cascadian bioregion of the Pacific Northwest of North America...
rivals again vied for the cup.
The Timbers secured the 2010 Cascadia Cup—the club's second—on July 22 after defeating Vancouver 2–1 in a league match at Swangard Stadium
Swangard Stadium
Swangard Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Central Park in Burnaby, British Columbia. Primarily used for soccer, football, and athletics, the stadium is home to the Simon Fraser Clan football team. The stadium was home to the Vancouver Whitecaps of the NASL...
in Burnaby, British Columbia.
Table
| Team | Pts | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland Timbers | 8 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 4 | |
| Vancouver Whitecaps | 2 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | |
Match results
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Kits
Final roster
Recognition
D-2 Pro League Most Valuable Player| Player | Link |
|---|---|
 Ryan PoreRyan Pore Ryan Pore is an American soccer player who is currently without a club.-Youth and College:Pore attended Madison Comprehensive High School, and played college soccer at the University of Tulsa, where in 2004 he was a finalist for the Hermann Trophy, twice named first team All-American, and the top... |
D-2 Pro League Postseason Awards Day 2 |
D-2 Pro League Goal Scoring Champion
| Player | Link |
|---|---|
| Ryan Pore Ryan Pore Ryan Pore is an American soccer player who is currently without a club.-Youth and College:Pore attended Madison Comprehensive High School, and played college soccer at the University of Tulsa, where in 2004 he was a finalist for the Hermann Trophy, twice named first team All-American, and the top... |
D-2 Pro League Postseason Awards Day 1 |
D-2 Pro League Best XI
| Player | Link |
|---|---|
| Ryan Pore Ryan Pore Ryan Pore is an American soccer player who is currently without a club.-Youth and College:Pore attended Madison Comprehensive High School, and played college soccer at the University of Tulsa, where in 2004 he was a finalist for the Hermann Trophy, twice named first team All-American, and the top... |
D-2 Pro League Postseason Awards Day 2 |
D-2 Pro League Player of the Month
| Month | Player | Link |
|---|---|---|
| April | Ryan Pore Ryan Pore Ryan Pore is an American soccer player who is currently without a club.-Youth and College:Pore attended Madison Comprehensive High School, and played college soccer at the University of Tulsa, where in 2004 he was a finalist for the Hermann Trophy, twice named first team All-American, and the top... |
D-2 Pro League April PotM |
Appearances and goals
- Last updated on October 11, 2010.
|}
Top scorers
Players with 1 goal or more included only.- Last updated on October 11, 2010
| Rk. | Nat. | Position | Player | Total | D-2 Pro League | Playoffs | U.S. Open Cup 2010 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup The 2010 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup was the 97th edition of the oldest competition in American soccer, running from June through early October.The tournament proper featured teams from the top five levels of the American Soccer Pyramid... |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | |
MF Midfielder A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role... |
Ryan Pore Ryan Pore Ryan Pore is an American soccer player who is currently without a club.-Youth and College:Pore attended Madison Comprehensive High School, and played college soccer at the University of Tulsa, where in 2004 he was a finalist for the Hermann Trophy, twice named first team All-American, and the top... |
15 | 15 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | |
FW | Bright Dike Bright Dike Chinedu "Bright" Dike is an American soccer player who currently plays for Portland Timbers of Major League Soccer.-College and Amateur:... |
14 | 10 | 0 | 4 |
| 3 |  |
MF Midfielder A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role... |
Kalif Alhassan | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
 |
DF Defender (association football) Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking.... |
Ross Smith | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
 |
FW | Takayuki Suzuki Takayuki Suzuki is a Japanese footballer who plays for Mito HollyHock in the J. League Division 2.-Club:Suzuki has spent the majority of his playing career with Kashima Antlers, playing six stints for the team over the course of ten years, in between short periods playing in Brazil and Belgium. Suzuki played 87... |
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
 |
MF Midfielder A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role... |
James Marcelin James Marcelin James Marcelin is a Haitian footballer who currently plays for Portland Timbers in Major League Soccer.-Professional:... |
2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| 7 | |
DF Defender (association football) Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking.... |
Josh Cameron Josh Cameron Josh Cameron is an American soccer player who last played for Portland Timbers in the USSF Division-2 Professional League.-College:... |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
 |
DF Defender (association football) Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking.... |
Mamadou Danso Mamadou Danso Mamadou "Futty" Danso is a Gambian footballer who currently plays for Portland Timbers of Major League Soccer.-College and Amateur:... |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| |
FW | George Josten George Josten George Josten is an American soccer player who last played for Portland Timbers in the USSF Division-2 Professional League.-College and Amateur:... |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
 |
FW | Mandjou Keita | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
 |
FW | O. J. Obatola | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| |
MF Midfielder A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role... |
Alex Nimo Alex Nimo Alex Nimo is a Liberian-born American soccer player who last played for Real Salt Lake of Major League Soccer.-Early life:... |
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| TOTALS | 43 | 34 | 1 | 8 |
Disciplinary record
Players with 1 card or more included only.- Last updated on October 11, 2010
| No. | Nat. | Position | Player | Total | D-2 Pro League | Playoffs | U.S. Open Cup 2010 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup The 2010 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup was the 97th edition of the oldest competition in American soccer, running from June through early October.The tournament proper featured teams from the top five levels of the American Soccer Pyramid... |
||||
| 0 | |
GK | Steve Cronin Steve Cronin Steve Michael Cronin is an American soccer player who currently plays for D.C. United of Major League Soccer.-College and Amateur:Cronin played college soccer at Santa Clara University from 2001 to 2003... |
2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | |
DF Defender (association football) Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking.... |
Josh Cameron Josh Cameron Josh Cameron is an American soccer player who last played for Portland Timbers in the USSF Division-2 Professional League.-College:... |
2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 5 | |
DF Defender (association football) Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking.... |
Quavas Kirk Quavas Kirk Quavas Kirk is an American soccer player who currently plays for Rochester Rhinos in the USL Professional Division.-Youth:Kirk did not play college soccer; he joined the U.S... |
2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 8 | |
MF Midfielder A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role... |
Rodrigo López Rodrigo Lopez (soccer) Rodrigo López is a Mexican-born American soccer player who is currently without a club.-Youth:López grew up in Harbor City, California, and began his career in 2003 when he joined the Chivas de Guadalajara youth system, where he played for a year and a half.-Professional:López turned professional... |
3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| (9) | |
FW | O. J. Obatola | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 12 | |
MF Midfielder A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role... |
Tony McManus Tony McManus (soccer) Anthony "Tony" McManus is an American soccer player who currently plays for the Carolina RailHawks in the North American Soccer League.-College and Amateur:... |
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 13 | |
DF Defender (association football) Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking.... |
Stephen Keel Stephen Keel Stephen Keel is an American soccer player who plays for New York Red Bulls in Major League Soccer.-College and Amateur:... |
2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 14 | |
MF Midfielder A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role... |
James Marcelin James Marcelin James Marcelin is a Haitian footballer who currently plays for Portland Timbers in Major League Soccer.-Professional:... |
5 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 15 | |
DF Defender (association football) Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking.... |
Ian Joy Ian Joy Ian Paul Joy is an American soccer player who last played for Portland Timbers in the USSF Division-2 Professional League. In 2011, Joy retired from playing and took a position as media staff with Real Salt Lake... |
9 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 16 | |
MF Midfielder A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role... |
Alex Nimo Alex Nimo Alex Nimo is a Liberian-born American soccer player who last played for Real Salt Lake of Major League Soccer.-Early life:... |
4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 17 | |
DF Defender (association football) Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking.... |
Scot Thompson Scot Thompson Scot Thompson is an American soccer player who currently play for Portland Timbers U23's in the USL Premier Development League.... |
2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 19 | |
FW | George Josten George Josten George Josten is an American soccer player who last played for Portland Timbers in the USSF Division-2 Professional League.-College and Amateur:... |
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 20 | |
DF Defender (association football) Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking.... |
Ross Smith | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 23 | |
MF Midfielder A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role... |
Ryan Pore Ryan Pore Ryan Pore is an American soccer player who is currently without a club.-Youth and College:Pore attended Madison Comprehensive High School, and played college soccer at the University of Tulsa, where in 2004 he was a finalist for the Hermann Trophy, twice named first team All-American, and the top... |
3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 25 | |
DF Defender (association football) Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking.... |
Steve Purdy Steve Purdy Steve Purdy is an American-born Salvadoran footballer currently playing for Portland Timbers in Major League Soccer.-College:... |
3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 27 | |
FW | Bright Dike Bright Dike Chinedu "Bright" Dike is an American soccer player who currently plays for Portland Timbers of Major League Soccer.-College and Amateur:... |
6 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 29 |  |
FW | Ibad Muhamadu Ibad Muhamadu Ibad Muhamadu is a Dutch professional footballer who currently plays for SV Spakenburg in the Dutch third division.-Europe:... |
4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 30 | |
FW | Takayuki Suzuki Takayuki Suzuki is a Japanese footballer who plays for Mito HollyHock in the J. League Division 2.-Club:Suzuki has spent the majority of his playing career with Kashima Antlers, playing six stints for the team over the course of ten years, in between short periods playing in Brazil and Belgium. Suzuki played 87... |
4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 98 | |
DF Defender (association football) Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking.... |
Mamadou Danso Mamadou Danso Mamadou "Futty" Danso is a Gambian footballer who currently plays for Portland Timbers of Major League Soccer.-College and Amateur:... |
4 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| TOTALS | 59 | 4 | 54 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |||
Goalkeeper stats
- Last updated on October 11, 2010.
| No. | Nat. | Player | Total | D-2 Pro League | Playoffs | U.S. Open Cup 2010 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup The 2010 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup was the 97th edition of the oldest competition in American soccer, running from June through early October.The tournament proper featured teams from the top five levels of the American Soccer Pyramid... |
||||||||||||
| MIN | GA | GAA | SV | MIN | GA | GAA | SV | MIN | GA | GAA | SV | MIN | GA | GAA | SV | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | |
Steve Cronin Steve Cronin Steve Michael Cronin is an American soccer player who currently plays for D.C. United of Major League Soccer.-College and Amateur:Cronin played college soccer at Santa Clara University from 2001 to 2003... |
2989 | 26 | 0.78 | 92 | 2509 | 22 | 0.79 | 81 | 180 | 2 | 1.00 | 4 | 300 | 2 | 0.60 | 7 |
| 1 | |
Matt Pyzdrowski Matt Pyzdrowski Matt Pyzdrowski is an American soccer player who currently plays for Ängelholm of Sweden's Superettan.-College and Amateur:... |
183 | 1 | 0.49 | 5 | 183 | 1 | 0.49 | 5 | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 0 |
| 24 | |
Adin Brown Adin Brown Adin Brown is an American soccer player who is currently without a club.-College:A highly-touted prospect and a starting goalkeeper for the United States in the run-up prior to the 2000 Summer Olympics, Brown played college soccer at the College of William and Mary... |
8 | 0 | 0.00 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0.00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 0 |
| TOTALS | 3180 | 27 | 0.76 | 97 | 2700 | 23 | 0.77 | 86 | 180 | 2 | 1.00 | 4 | 300 | 2 | 0.60 | 7 | ||
Transfers in
Permanent| Date | Pos. | Name | Previous club | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 7, 2009 | DF Defender (association football) Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking.... |
Quavas Kirk Quavas Kirk Quavas Kirk is an American soccer player who currently plays for Rochester Rhinos in the USL Professional Division.-Youth:Kirk did not play college soccer; he joined the U.S... |
Minnesota Thunder Minnesota Thunder Minnesota Thunder was an American professional soccer team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. Founded in 1990, the team played in the USL First Division , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2009. The team played its home games at the National Sports Center in nearby... |
Free |
| February 11, 2010 | MF Midfielder A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role... |
James Marcelin James Marcelin James Marcelin is a Haitian footballer who currently plays for Portland Timbers in Major League Soccer.-Professional:... |
 Puerto Rico IslandersPuerto Rico Islanders Puerto Rico Islanders is a Puerto Rican professional football team based in Bayamón, Puerto Rico. Founded in 2003, the team plays in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid.... |
Free |
| February 15, 2010 | DF Defender (association football) Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking.... |
Ross Smith |
 Ebbsfleet United |
Free |
| February 18, 2010 | DF Defender (association football) Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking.... |
Ian Joy Ian Joy Ian Paul Joy is an American soccer player who last played for Portland Timbers in the USSF Division-2 Professional League. In 2011, Joy retired from playing and took a position as media staff with Real Salt Lake... |
 Ingolstadt 04FC Ingolstadt 04 FC Ingolstadt 04 is a German football club based in Ingolstadt, Bavaria. The club was founded in 2004 out of the merger of the football sides of two other clubs: ESV Ingolstadt and MTV Ingolstadt.-ESV Ingolstadt:... |
Free |
| February 23, 2010 | GK | Adin Brown Adin Brown Adin Brown is an American soccer player who is currently without a club.-College:A highly-touted prospect and a starting goalkeeper for the United States in the run-up prior to the 2000 Summer Olympics, Brown played college soccer at the College of William and Mary... |
 Aalesund |
Free |
| February 26, 2010 | FW | Doug DeMartin Doug DeMartin Doug DeMartin is an American soccer player who last played for Portland Timbers in the USSF Division-2 Professional League.-College and Amateur:... (R Rookie Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of their sport or has little or no professional experience. The term also has the more general meaning of anyone new to a profession, training or activity Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of... ) |
Michigan State Spartans Michigan State Spartans The Michigan State Spartans are the athletic team that represent Michigan State University. The school's athletic program includes 25 varsity sports teams. Their mascot is a Spartan warrior named Sparty, and the school colors are green and white... Michigan BucksMichigan Bucks Michigan Bucks is an American soccer team based in Pontiac, Michigan, United States. Founded in 1995, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Great Lakes Division of the Central Conference.The team plays its home games at the... |
Free |
| February 26, 2010 | MF Midfielder A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role... |
Derek Gaudet Derek Gaudet Derek Gaudet is an Canadian soccer player who last played for Portland Timbers in the USSF Division-2 Professional League.-Club:... |
Halifax Dunbrack |
Free |
| February 26, 2010 | GK | Matt Pyzdrowski Matt Pyzdrowski Matt Pyzdrowski is an American soccer player who currently plays for Ängelholm of Sweden's Superettan.-College and Amateur:... (R Rookie Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of their sport or has little or no professional experience. The term also has the more general meaning of anyone new to a profession, training or activity Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of... ) |
Marquette Golden Eagles Marquette Golden Eagles The Marquette Golden Eagles are the intercollegiate athletic teams of Marquette University.... Chicago Fire PremierChicago Fire Premier Chicago Fire Premier is an American soccer team based in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Founded in 2001, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Great Lakes Division of the Central Conference.The team plays its home games at... |
Free |
| April 2, 2010 | DF Defender (association football) Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking.... |
Steve Purdy Steve Purdy Steve Purdy is an American-born Salvadoran footballer currently playing for Portland Timbers in Major League Soccer.-College:... |
FC Dallas FC Dallas FC Dallas is an American professional soccer club based in the Dallas suburb of Frisco, Texas which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States of America and Canada... |
Free |
| April 7, 2010 | FW | O. J. Obatola |
 Gombak UnitedGombak United FC Gombak United Football Club is a professional football club which plays in Singapore's S.League.Gombak United rejoined the S.League in 2006, having previously played in the league from 1998 to 2002. The club's best S.League finishes to date have been fourth place in 2007. The club also won the Best... |
Undisclosed |
| April 7, 2010 | FW | Bright Dike Bright Dike Chinedu "Bright" Dike is an American soccer player who currently plays for Portland Timbers of Major League Soccer.-College and Amateur:... (R Rookie Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of their sport or has little or no professional experience. The term also has the more general meaning of anyone new to a profession, training or activity Rookie is a term for a person who is in his or her first year of play of... ) |
Notre Dame Fighting Irish Notre Dame Fighting Irish Notre Dame's nickname is inherited from Irish immigrant soldiers who fought in the Civil War with the Union's Irish Brigade, , recollected among other places in the poetry of Joyce Kilmer who served with one of the Irish Brigade regiments during World War I... Indiana InvadersIndiana Invaders Indiana Invaders is an American soccer team based in South Bend, Indiana, United States. Founded in 1998, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Great Lakes Division of the Central Conference.The team plays its home games at the... |
Free |
| August 4, 2010 | FW | Ibad Muhamadu Ibad Muhamadu Ibad Muhamadu is a Dutch professional footballer who currently plays for SV Spakenburg in the Dutch third division.-Europe:... |
Dordrecht FC Dordrecht FC Dordrecht is a football club from the city of Dordrecht in the Netherlands, currently playing in the Eerste Divisie.- History :Founded on 16 August 1883 as Dordrechtsche Football Club , it became a professional club in 1954 upon the introduction of professional football to the Netherlands... |
Free |
| August 19, 2010 | MF Midfielder A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role... |
Kalif Alhassan |
Liberty Professionals |
Undisclosed |
| August 25, 2010 | DF Defender (association football) Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking.... |
Kevin Goldthwaite Kevin Goldthwaite Kevin Goldthwaite is a former American soccer player who last played for Portland Timbers of Major League Soccer.-College:After graduating from Christian Brothers High School ,... |
New York Red Bulls |
Free |
Loan
| Date | Pos. | Name | From | Return Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 11, 2010 | MF Midfielder A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role... |
Alex Nimo Alex Nimo Alex Nimo is a Liberian-born American soccer player who last played for Real Salt Lake of Major League Soccer.-Early life:... |
Real Salt Lake Real Salt Lake Real Salt Lake is an American professional soccer club based in Sandy, Utah, a suburb of Salt Lake City. The team competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. They currently play their home games at Rio Tinto Stadium. Real Salt Lake won... |
End of Season |
Transfers out
Permanent| Date | Pos. | Name | To | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 7, 2009 | FW | Jason McLaughlin Jason McLaughlin (American soccer) Jason McLaughlin is an American soccer player who last played for Portland Timbers U23's in the USL Premier Development League.-College and Amateur:... |
N/A | Contract expired |
| December 7, 2009 | FW | Kevin Forrest Kevin Forrest Kevin Forrest is an American soccer player, currently playing for Washington Crossfire in the USL Premier Development League.-Youth and College:... |
N/A | Contract expired |
| December 7, 2009 | FW |  Antouman JallowAntouman Jallow Antouman Jallow is a Swedish soccer player of Gambian heritage who currently plays for Sandvikens IF in the Swedish Division 2.-Early Career in Sweden:... |
N/A | Contract expired |
| December 7, 2009 | DF Defender (association football) Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking.... |
David Hayes David Hayes (soccer) David Hayes is a American soccer player currently playing for FC Tampa Bay in the North American Soccer League.... |
N/A | Contract expired |
| December 7, 2009 | DF Defender (association football) Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking.... |
Cameron Dunn Cameron Dunn Cameron Dunn is an American soccer player who plays for Los Angeles Blues in the USL Professional Division.-College and Amateur:... |
N/A | Contract expired |
| December 7, 2009 | DF Defender (association football) Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking.... |
 Ivan BecerraIvan Becerra Ivan Becerra is a Mexican footballer currently playing for Wilmington Hammerheads in the USL Professional Division.-College:... |
N/A | Contract expired |
| December 7, 2009 | MF Midfielder A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role... |
Shaun Higgins Shaun Higgins (soccer) Shaun Higgins is a retired American soccer player. He has now started his own agency, PROficient Agency, to represent professional soccer players.-College and amateur:... |
N/A | Contract expired |
| December 7, 2009 | MF Midfielder A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role... |
Tom Poltl Tom Poltl Tom Poltl is a retired American soccer midfielder who was a member of the United States U-20 men's national soccer team at the 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship.-Youth:... |
N/A | Contract expired |
| December 7, 2009 | GK | Brian Visser Brian Visser Brian Visser is an American soccer player who currently plays for Dayton Dutch Lions in the USL Professional Division.-College:... |
N/A | Contract expired |
| February 11, 2010 | DF Defender (association football) Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking.... |
Takuro Nishimura Takuro Nishimura is a Japanese footballer currently playing for Consadole Sapporo.-College:Nishimura attended Kokushikan University in Setagaya, Tokyo from 1997 to 2000, winning the All-Japan Prime Minister Cup.-Professional:... |
Crystal Palace Baltimore |
Undisclosed |
| June 10, 2010 | FW | O. J. Obatola |
Unattached | Released |
| September 1, 2010 | FW | Mandjou Keita |
 Pune FCPune FC Pune Football Club is an Indian football club based in Pune. The club was established in 2007, and gained promotion to the I-League in the 2009-10 season. Pune F.C. one of the most professional football club in India is also known as one of the first football club to not follow the Institutional... |
Undisclosed |
Loan
| Date | Pos. | Name | To | Return Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| November 11, 2009 | FW | Mandjou Keita |
Salgaocar |
April 28, 2010 |